The Melfort Mustangs earned their first win of the season against Nipawin on Friday. (Clark Stork/northeastNOW Staff)

By Clark Stork

Ran out of gas

Shorthanded Hawks fall in Melfort

Dec 20, 2025 | 1:02 PM

The Nipawin Hawks suffered their first defeat to the Melfort Mustangs this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season on Friday at the Northern Lights Palace.

Melfort scored twice in the opening period, then Nipawin got a highlight reel goal from Konnor Watson, before the Mustangs scored two empty net goals late in a 4-1 victory. The Hawks had won the previous three games between the two rivals.

Nipawin was forced to postpone Wednesday’s game versus La Ronge due to sickness within the team. The Hawks dressed 10 forwards Friday, plus called up Barret Berger from the Prince Albert Mintos. Many more on the ice were not 100 percent healthy, but keeping the Mustangs a shot away until the last couple of minutes was extraordinary, according to Head Coach Tad Kozun.

“I am really proud of them,” Kozun said on the postgame show on 750 Beach Radio. “You could tell right from puck drop that we just didn’t have the legs. Two empty netters, we had to go for it, but you could tell we just didn’t have anything left in the tank for that final push.”

The Mustangs started the game with nine straight shots, finally getting to Colten Scott. Danton Cox and Austin Osiowy were able to beat the 18-year-old rookie from Calgary, Alta., as the final shots were 34-22 Melfort. Scott was credited with 30 saves.

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Kozun added that the shortened lineup allowed some players to find themselves in new positions and situations, something he said will make the group stronger in the long run.

“Some of these guys stepped up and played really well. We only had 10 forwards tonight, and some guys were sitting on the bench a little bit longer than others just because of their energy levels. We’ve talked a lot about how much we like this group, the way they battled tonight, there was a lot to like,” he said.

The Hawks host Melfort on Saturday to close the 2025 portion of the season. Kozun couldn’t predict what his lineup would be for the rematch so quickly after the first matchup. He urged the hometown faithful to amp up the group one last time before the New Year.

“Any type of energy we can get right now, we need to inject into these guys. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings, maybe we can get a few healthy bodies, we might lose a few, it’s an hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute team right now,” Kozun said.

Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Centennial Arena.